This was a post Rick’s son Michael made after the accident, but before he passed. We wanted to share it here, as well.
Father
Dad
pops
papa
padre
The name doesn’t matter
what matters is what you are to me
and what you were to us
You have been a guiding light
a beacon of truth in a confusing world
at times a needed friend
at times a necessary adversary
But always, without question, a rock
a person we could lean on
a person we could learn from
a light in our own personal darkness
and now you sit in a darkness of your own
a darkness that I don’t know how to guide you out of
a Night into which I don’t know how to bring the day
You have been a guiding light
a beacon of truth in a confusing world
at times a needed friend
at times a necessary adversary
But always, without question, a rock
a person we could lean on
a person we could learn from
a light in our own personal darkness
and now you sit in a darkness of your own
a darkness that I don’t know how to guide you out of
a Night into which I don’t know how to bring the day
Father, dad, friend
know that you are still needed
we are not ready for you to depart
but if depart you must
know that your memory
your love
your light
and your legacy
will live on
it will live on in each life that you touched
it will live on in each of us that you directed
in each decision that you affected
Father
Father I can’t let you go
I didn’t get to let you know
one last time
what your guidance meant to me
I didn’t get to share with you how every decision
every choice
every goal
was measured against the lens you would see it through
was weighed against the measures you gave me
was tested against the truth, which you showed me was absolute
Father
I am not sure how to do this without you
I am not sure how to move forward
how to push past the tears
the worst part is that you have shown through the years
that you would have the words
the salve
the balm
the healing touch to guide me through this
Which just means I need you now ever more
More than before
more than ever
I need your guidance
I need your love
I need your presence
Father
Father
father
Father